Friday, 23 May 2025
from 10:30 to 12:30
Lead
Prof. Michael J. Balick, The New York Botanical Garden, USA
PD Dr Kristjan Plaetzer, Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Austria
Prof. Heinrich Walt, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
Description
Part 1 (10:30 – 11:30)
Climate change has reshaped ecosystems, fostering the spread of pathogens such as Candida auris, once a harmless saprophyte to become a major hospital-acquired infection source.
Lightning up the path to Photodynamic Inactivation of multi-resistant Candida auris
by PD Dr Kristjan Plaetzer, Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Austria
Candida auris, originally a saprophyte, has adapted to hospital environments. Its resistance to multiple antifungal drugs makes it very difficult to treat and a severe concern in healthcare units. The fungus can cause life-threatening bloodstream infections, wound infections, or organ infections. It persists on hospital surfaces, spreading easily via contact with contaminated surfaces or medical devices. This leads to outbreaks, particularly in intensive care units. Research shows that light, combined with the natural photosensitizer sodium magnesium chlorophyllin, can inactivate Candida auris through Photodynamic Inactivation, offering a biocompatible and effective approach to control the pathogenic fungus.
Dosimetry of daylight and its application in PDI
by Prof. Ronald Sroka, Laser-Forschungslabor, LIFE Center, Department of Urology, LMU Hospital, Germany
Precise dosimetry of daylight is essential to maximize its therapeutic and environmental benefits. Understanding about intensity, duration, and spectral composition of sunlight can enhance its applications in health, agriculture, and disinfection. As a natural resource, sunlight can be harnessed for Photodynamic Inactivation (PDI) of pathogens, promoting sustainable infection control. Additionally, controlled sunlight exposure supports vitamin D synthesis, plant growth, and overall well-being.
PDI with zirconium dental implants as optical waveguides and the potential use in combination with daylight
by B.Sc. Kolja Lehmann, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland
The successful use of PDI combined with ceramic materials as optical waveguides can destruct bacterial biofilms. Together with well dosed daylight it has the potential to reduce the need for antibiotic prescription in oral medicine.
Part 2 (11:30 – 12:30)
Daylight plays an important role in the health and lifestyle of peoples worldwide. This section of the session will discuss Pacific Island perspectives of sunlight, environment and health as well as Western therapeutic perspectives.
Pacific Island Perspectives on Daylight and Human and Environmental Health
by Prof. Michael J. Balick, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY USA.
This brief commentary will report on recent findings relating to a project on the study of daylight and culture in the Republic of Vanuatu, where local culture is very much influenced by the sun, shaping lifestyle, health and nutrition.
Daylight: How can we promote health while minimizing the risks of sunlight?
by Dr Ládi Szabolcs, MD Fellow, Arizona University Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine (USA) and the Medical University of Debrecen Integrative Medicine Working Group (Hungary).
Sunlight plays a crucial yet complex role in influencing human health and cancer dynamics, acting both as a preventive agent and a risk factor for cancer. One of the essential benefits of sunlight exposure is its role in the synthesis of vitamin D. When the skin is exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, it triggers the production of vitamin D, a critical nutrient that has been shown to have protective effects against certain cancers, such as colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers. Moderate and controlled exposure to sunlight is thus beneficial for overall health and may contribute to lowering the risk of certain types of cancers. Conversely, excessive sunlight exposure, particularly to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, poses significant cancer risks. However, examples from Indigenous and other cultures all around the world show us feasible ways of maximizing the benefits of sunlight while minimizing its potentially harmful effects. The use of ingestible and topical photoprotective substances, including phycocyanin, has a well-documented and long history worldwide that we can learn from and utilize.
Objectives